“Surprise!” Krit calls as he strides in the front door.

“Is that Krit?” Zane asks with a smile and embraces him.

“Long time.” Krit says.

“Not long enough.” Zane teases and shoves him lightly.

I roll my eyes at them and stride past to plop down on the couch.

“You didn’t tell me you were having lunch with Krit, kitten.” Zane says accusingly.

“What? And give you adequate time to go into hiding? Never.” I retort.

Krit grins and plops down next to me.

“Be a doll and fetch me something to drink, would you, Zane?” Krit says.

Zane shoots him a look, but gets him a glass of water.

“Good dog, Millie.” Krit teases, earning him a swift punch in the arm that causes him to spill water on himself and on me.

“Hey!” I protest, scooting away from Krit.

“Sorry. Zane’s fault.” Krit says quickly.

“Yeah, blame me.” Zane says, rolling his eyes.

I smile and shake my head. It feels good to be in the company of my two favorite people in the whole world: my best friend, Krit and my...Zane.

“Can we behave for five seconds?” I ask, pretending to be extremely annoyed.

They see through me and just smile and say simultaneously, “Nope.”

“Boys.” I sigh.

“Yep.” Krit says, “You know you love us.”

“Unfortunately.” I reply, and punch him affectionately.

“I’m starting to feel like a punching bag, here.” Krit complains.

“Oh, complain, complain. You can take it.” I retort, getting up to go get myself something to drink.

Zane promptly takes my spot on the couch. Feeling bold, I return with my glass of water and sit in his lap.

“Hey!” Zane protests.

“You took my seat. This is the penalty.” I respond.

“Fine, then. I can deal with that.” Zane says, stubbornly.

Krit shoots me a look, but I ignore him.

“Fine.” I echo, taking a sip of my water.

“So, Krit. Where’ve you been keeping yourself?” Zane changes the subject.

Krit quickly wipes the look of his face and grins at Zane.

“New Mexico. Zack sent me south. I said ‘Si, senior’ and went.” Krit shrugs.

“Sounds about right.” Zane says.

“You know the best part of the whole thing?” Krit asks conspiratorially.

“What?”

“Bikini season. Zack sent me down just as the season opened.” Krit replies, grin getting bigger.

I unobtrusively kick Krit in the shin and take another sip of my water.

“Ow! Syl!” Krit complains, rubbing his shin, “I’m a guy! I can’t help it!”

“Can’t help what? Being an obnoxious pervert or opening your mouth and talking about it?” I ask innocently.

“Both.” Krit replies, then stops.

Zane laughs at him and I can’t help but feel my mouth twitch up into a smile. Krit rolls his eyes and sits back again.

“You suck.” he mutters.

“Ah, poor Krit.” Zane teases.

“Shut up, you.” Krit snaps, “Your time will come.”

“Oh, scary.”

“Bite me.”

“No, thanks.”

“Would you knock it off?”

“Make me.”

“Boys!” I interrupt before they get into an all-out fight.

“Sorry, Syl.” Krit says, with mock-sheepishness.

“We didn’t mean it.” Zane adds, in the same tone.

“You’re both hopeless.” I announce.

“Thanks, Syl.” Zane says sarcastically.

“Yeah, thanks.” Krit agrees.

I sigh in frustration, but inwardly smile. This is how things are supposed to be. No running, no hiding, no pretending. Just chilling and being myself. And then a part of me has to go and wonder sardonically how long it will be before I screw this up, too.